The firstSlovenian Circular Economy Roadmap, authored by Circular Change and other consortium of partners, was published May 2018. It aims to pave the way towards transitioning to from a linear to a circular economy in Slovenia through an inclusive multi-stakeholder process.

The goals of the Roadmap are:

a. Outline the potentials that establish Slovenia as the leader of the transition into the Circular Economy in Central and Eastern Europe

b. Involve stakeholders to identify and connect circular practices

c. Create recommendations for the Government of the Republic of Slovenia to facilitate a more efficient transition

d.Identify circular opportunities for the strengthening of international economic competitiveness and quality of life for all

The Roadmap towards the Circular Economy in Slovenia introduces four priority fields for Slovenia:

The four priority areas that are presented were created as a combination of summaries of the field work approach, available relevant data and criteria, and comparable attempts to identify the areas of countries that have already started their preparations for national roadmaps.

They have been evaluated as those with which we can strengthen the efficiency of material and primary resources, increase the value of materials, products or services, develop circular business models, strengthen energy efficiency, close off material flows, prevent waste generation, integrate green public procurement, modify patterns of use and strengthen the circular culture.

The transition to a Circular Economy is a complex, comprehensive and, most of all, a long-term process. To better understand this process, the Roadmap employs the principle that we have named the Circular Triangle.

With it, we wish to outline the three fundamental aspects that, only when they are reconciled and working in unison, allow for a systemic Circular Transition. Each of the fundamentals has a Core that serves as the main stimulus for change.

The triangle is comprised of the following:

• Circular Economy – from linear to circular business models/companies – Companies as the Core

• Circular Change – comprehensive policies to support the transition/public sector – Public sector as the Core

• Circular Culture – reflection on values and new narrative/citizens – Citizens as the Core

About the project

The project began in September 2017 and the final report was unveiled at the 3rd International Circular Change Conference on the 11th of May 2018 in Maribor by and Founder and Executive Director of CC Ladeja Godina Košir in the presence of the Prime Minister of Slovenia Dr. Miro Cerar.

The project team of experts from various backgrounds was led by the former European Commisioner for the Environment and current co-chair of the UN International Resource Panel dr. Janez Potočnik and included the Jožef Stefan Institute, Wcycle Institute, Giacomelli media, and others. Circular Change authored the majority of the report and served as the connecting hub and main communication platform.

The Roadmap was commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment of Slovenia. The initiator of the project is the Partnership for a Green Economy, led by State Secretary in Office of the Prime Minister Tadej Slapnik.

Public introduction of the Roadmap, Celje International Trade Fair, September 2017

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia Dr. Miro Cerar expressed his support for the project on the 12th of September 2017 at the Celje International Trade Fair, where the project was first introduced to the public:

“For us, the transition to a circular economy is an exceptional opportunity, which will enable the development of new business models and increase the competitiveness of the Slovenian economy. Our ambition is to become a regional leader in the field of systemic transition to a circular economy and join the most advanced European countries, who have already implemented the principles of the circular economy is their central developmental paradigm.”

The Roadmap builds on the goals set by the Slovenian Development Strategy 2030, by the Vision of Slovenia in 2050 as well as in Slovenia’s Smart Specialisation Strategy.

A key goal of the project was to identify the regional and local opportunities of the circular economy sector in Slovenia. For this purpose, CC and the Partnership for a Green Economy organised 12 regional consultations and published the original document Inside the regions of Slovenia (in Slovenian).

Co-creating the Roadmap

During the period between September 2017 and April 2018, the project group for the preparation of the Roadmap:

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About Circular Change

The Circular Change platform is a private nonprofit organization, collaborating with its strong network of international partners, in order to create a competence network to assist in a successful transition to the Circular Economy, embracing it’s economic, societal and environmental dimensions.

Our mission

Circular Change is a stakeholder engagement platform focusing on the Circular Economy. Its fundamental mission is to inform, educate, recognise leaders, interpret best practices and co-create pioneering case studies in the transition from linear to circular business models.